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Telemundo Station Group to buy 13 TV channels; Cineworld buying Regal for $5.9B

S&P Global Market Intelligence provides a wrap-up of U.S. companies' media and communications deal announcements and completions from Dec. 4 to Dec. 8.

* Interpublic Group of Cos. Inc. unit Weber Shandwick on Dec. 7 announced the acquisition of two digital companies. Weber Shandwick purchased Resolute Digital, a full-service digital marketing and technology company specializing in audience intelligence and performance marketing, and Bomoda, a data science and business intelligence company with deep specialization in China.

* Nexstar Media Group Inc. agreed to buy independent video advertising infrastructure company LKQD Technologies. The deal is for about $90 million in cash, subject to working capital and other adjustments including a minimum cash balance of $10 million, and a contingent earnout payment based on LKQD's performance at the end of two years under Nexstar's ownership. The transaction is expected to close late in 2017 or the first quarter of 2018 and is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino approval and other customary closing conditions.

* Kaplan Inc. unit Kaplan Professional Education agreed to buy the College for Financial Planning from Apollo Education Group Inc. The acquisition is expected to close this summer, pending review by the Higher Learning Commission, College for Financial Planning's accreditor, the company said Dec. 6. College for Financial Planning offers financial education and training to individuals through programs of study that lead to licensing or certification through individual courses, graduate-level study and education for professionals pursuing the Certified Financial Planner designation. Kaplan, a global education provider, is owned by Graham Holdings Co.

* NBCUniversal Media LLC's Telemundo Station Group agreed to buy 13 television stations, serving 10 markets, from ZGS Communications Inc. The companies will close the deal after obtaining the necessary approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and other governmental approvals. ZGS Communications currently owns and operates Telemundo (US)-affiliated station in the El Paso, Texas, market and Class A stations serving the Washington, D.C.; Hartford, Conn.; Orlando, Tampa and Myers, Fla. markets; Providence, R.I.; and Raleigh, N.C., markets, as well as low-power stations serving the Springfield, Mass., and Richmond, Va., markets. NBCU is owned by Comcast Corp.

* Nielsen Holdings unit Nielsen Sports acquired Repucom Africa, operated by TransAfrica Media. The acquisition is expected to help Nielsen Sports expand its footprint in Africa. Repucom Africa was a licensee of Nielsen Sports and has been trading as Nielsen Sports South Africa, the company said Dec. 5. Also, Nielsen named Kelvin Watt, group managing director of TransAfrica Media, regional managing director of Nielsen Sports in Africa and the Middle East. Nielsen Sports operates in more than 100 countries. TransAfrica Media is a pan-African sports marketing and communications group with offices in southern and eastern Africa.

* Telecom company PDX Partners Inc. has acquired enterprise risk management firm Atoma LLC. Atoma is currently licensed to write policies in Texas, but will immediately begin to acquire licenses in all 50 states. It provides professional advisory services to the cannabis industry. Its licensed advisers provide expertise regarding products, premises and general liability, and its other services include workers compensation, property insurance, crop insurance, bonds, auto liability and employee benefits.

* Apple Inc. acquired Pop Up Archive, an online platform focused on building tools to transcribe, organize and search audio files, NiemanLab reported Dec. 5. Confirming the news, the tech giant said "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." According to a notice on Pop Up Archive's website, the startup shut down its operations and ended its support Nov. 28.

* Digerati Technologies Inc. closed its acquisition of Synergy Telecom Inc., a provider of cloud communication services in Texas. Shift8 Networks Inc., Digerati's wholly owned subsidiary, is combining Synergy Telecom with its Texas-based business and operations, the company said Dec. 5. The total consideration paid by the company to buy Synergy Telecom consisted of cash, restricted stock and a promissory note with revenue assurance covenants payable over 15 months.

* The U.K.'s Cineworld Group plc has agreed to acquire U.S. movie theater operator Regal Entertainment Group for a total transaction value of $5.9 billion, including debt and net of cash. Under the deal, Regal stockholders will receive $23 in cash for each share of class A and class B common stock at completion. Cineworld will fund the acquisition through about $4 billion of new debt facilities and a $2.3 billion equity raise via a rights issue. The rights issue would include a commitment from Global City Holdings BV, which owns about 28% of Cineworld, to fully subscribe a portion of the rights issue.

* DHI Group Inc. sold its Health eCareers business to j2 Global Inc. unit Everyday Health Professional for about $15 million in cash. Proceeds of the transaction, which closed Dec. 4, will be used to reduce the balance on the company's revolving credit facility and support strategic initiatives.